Here’s a selection of post-game quotes from the U.S.-Barbados World Cup qualifier (and no, none from Coach Bob Bradley – he’s a terrible quote):

Brian Ching on the importance of the opening goal in the first minute:

Clint (Dempsey) opened them up in the first minute. … We capitalized on that the rest of the game.”

Landon Donovan on the quick free kick that led to the goal:

“We don’t want to wait for the whistle. (The referee) got the ball and makes sure you are set. He said ‘you can play if you want.’ It’s a freebie. We’ll take it.”

On the progression of the game:

“We felt confident as the game wore on fitness would be an issue. With each goal it gets a little easier because they die a little more. We didn’t want to go (to Barbados) having any doubts.”

DaMarcus Beasley on the team’s progress:

“We’re starting to know each other much better. We’re not the finished product yet. … We’re supposed to win these games decisively. We’re not going to get a false sense of hope.”

Clint Dempsey on the same subject:

“We’re moving in the right direction as a team, but it’s difficult to score against the best teams in the world,” he said. “We’d like to score more goals against those kinds of teams.

Quote of the night goes to Dempsey:

“We’ve got to Barbados and make sure we don’t get beat 9-0.”

The U.S., by the way, leaves Southern California Monday and travels to Miami where they’ll train before leaving for Barbados.

The second leg of the two-game series against Barbados will be played noon Sunday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados live on ESPN Classic.

Here’s a roundup from CONCACAF of today’s World Cup qualifiers.

The U.S. will likely face Guatemala, Cuba and the winner of Bermuda-Trinidad & Tobago in the next round.

Read about what Landon Donovan is celebrating here.

U.S. lineup: 18-Brad Guzan; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra, 15-Heath Pearce; 10-Landon Donovan (9-Eddie Jonson, 81), 12-Michael Bradley, 4-Pablo Mastroeni (16-Freddy Adu, 26), 17-DaMarcus Beasley; 11-Brian Ching, 8-Clint Dempsey (7-Eddie Lewis, 72).
Subs not used: 1-Matt Reis, 2-Frankie Hejduk, 13-Maurice Edu, 14-Danny Calif.

The U.S. got its biggest ever win in Carson today, hammering a largely helpless Barbados 8-0, with Brian Ching (almost) netting a hat trick. They gave “his” second goal to an unfortunate Barbados defender for an own goal.

The U.S. must still visit the island nation for the second leg of course, but that will be largely an obligatory exercise and not much more.

Landon Donovan got the fourth (and the 36th of his U.S. career) direct from a quickly taken free kick that took Barbados by surprise in the 59th minute.

Dempsey made it 5-0 four minutes later, sliding home a rebound from 12 yards after Ching had a shot blocked.

The sixth came from an Eddie Johnson header one minute after coming on as a sub for Landon Donovan. He now has 12 goals in 36 games for the U.S.

Brian Ching got the last two, the final goal coming just one minute from the end of regulation time.

More from the dreaded mixed zone later.

The U.S. leads 3-0 after the first 45 minutes and while it’s not exactly shooting practice, this can hardly be construed as a competitive game either.

The U.S. went ahead after just 54 seconds, Carlos Bocanegra crossing to Clint Dempsey for the easy goal with Barbados still mentally snoozing on a Caribbean beach.

The U.S. made it two after 13 minutes, a toe poke from Brian Ching being blocked and Michael Bradley following up for the goal.

The third duly followed in the 20th minute, a 21-yard shot from Pablo Mastroeni deflecting off Ching who was in the penalty area. Ching didn’t know much about it, but got credit for the goal.

The U.S. eased up after that, playing possession soccer and patiently awaiting the inevitable Barbadan defensive breakdowns.

Mastroeni came off in the 26th minute, apparently with a muscle strain in his left leg and was replaced by Freddy Adu.

The lone “concern” for Coach Bob Bradley: an unnecessary yellow card given to defender Oguchi Onyewu for a bit of argy bargy with Barbados playmaker Norman Forde, who also got a yellow.

For those keeping count at home: the U.S. leads 10-2 in shots.

Gorgeous afternoon and a sparse (but hopefully enthusiastic crowd, observe U.S. Soccer officials) for this afternoon’s game in Carson.

Turns out goalkeeper Tim Howard hurt his lower back during practice Friday, which is why Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan earns his eighth cap.

The rest of the starting line-up for the U.S.: at full back are Steve Cherundolo and Heath Pierce, while Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra are in the middle.

In midfield, it’s Pablo Mastroeni, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley and DaMarcus Beasley.

Up front are Brian Ching and Clint Dempsey.

Coach Bob Bradley has thankfully left the misfiring Eddie Johnson on the bench alongside Freddy Adu.

The Barbados team is littered with the likes of midfielder Jonathan Forte (Scunthorpe United) and Jonathon Nurse (Dagenham & Redbridge) from the lower divisions in England.

The man to keep your eye on for Barbados: playmaker and captain Norman Forde.

Landon Donovan is being honored before the game after collecting his century of caps.

The game is on ESPN2.